'The jury's out': UK's Liz Truss criticised over 'Macron, friend or foe?' reply
August 26, 2022, 11:36 am

'The jury's out': UK's Liz Truss criticised over 'Macron, friend or foe?' reply

Fantastic day, meeting so many Conservatives who share my vision for the country. Together we will unite our party and unleash the UK’s potential - Text and Photo. Liz Truss official Facebook account

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has been criticised after she said the "jury was still out" on French President Emmanuel Macron, the BBC reported.

Her remark came as she was asked if Mr Macron was a "friend or foe" of the UK at a Tory leadership hustings.

She added that if elected PM she would judge him on "deeds not words".

Her comment came at the end of the hustings during a series of "quickfire questions" posed by the host, TalkTV's Julia Hartley-Brewer.

Ms Truss, widely seen as the clear frontrunner to the next Conservative leader and prime minister, made the remark at the penultimate leadership hustings in Norwich, to loud applause.

The UK and France have clashed over several issues in recent years, including migrant boat crossings in the Channel, a military pact between Britain, the US and Australia, and Brexit measures involving Northern Ireland. Mr Macron has sometimes publicly criticised the Conservative government's approach.

President Emmanuel Macron and I agreed to step up our military support for Ukraine at this critical moment, and to enhance Anglo-French cooperation on defence and security - PM Boris Johnson official Facebook account

Labour's David Lammy accused Ms Truss of "a woeful lack of judgement", saying she had insulted one of "Britain's closest allies".

Former Conservative minister Gavin Barwell also questioned Ms Truss's comment saying: "You would have thought the foreign secretary was aware we are in a military alliance with France."

Sunak, Truss take part in UK leadership debate in Birmingham

Another ex-Tory minister, David Gauke, said: "There's playing to the gallery and then there's letting the prejudices of the gallery go to your head, especially when now is one of the worst times to try to fragment the West."

When asked the same question Mr Sunak said Mr Macron was a "friend".

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